Toner delivery system having a multi-functional toner container for non-mechanical printer and copier means

ABSTRACT

The toner container (10) described has a bottom in the shape of a funnel, with a very deep toner storage region. The side walls of the container consist of flat surfaces, whereby at least one wall (12) of the container forms a support surface for the toner container (10). In order to prevent the adhesion of the toner on the walls of the container, said walls are sloped. The toner container (10) is emptied by means of a vertically movable suction spout arranged in a vertically movable manner. In this way, it can be used both as a transfer tank for fresh toner and as a collection tank for used toner.

The invention is directed to a toner container and toner delivery systemcomprising a filling and emptying opening for interchangeable fasteningin a holding mechanism of a printer or copier means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In copier and in modern fast data printers that operate on the principleof electrophotography, charge images are generated on a recordingmedium, for example directly on an intermediate carrier (photoconductivedrum) or directly on special paper, and are subsequently inked with ablack powder (toner) in a developer station. Given employment of anintermediate carrier, this toner image is subsequently transferred ontonormal paper and fixed thereon.

As a rule, a two-component developer that is composed of ferromagneticcarrier particles and of the toner particles carrying the color is used.The developer is conducted past the charge image on the intermediatecarrier with a magnetic brush arrangement, the toner adhering thereto asa result of electrostatic forces.

An electrophotographic copier means that develops charge imagesaccording to the principle addressed above is disclosed, for example,from DE-AS 21 66 667 and corresponding U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,784,297 and3,883,240.

Due to the inking of the charge images on the intermediate carrier, thetoner concentration in the developer mix of the developer stationconstantly decreases. It is therefore necessary to constantly supply newtoner to the developer mix in metered fashion. Since the tonerconsumption per time unit is extremely high in fast copier means andhigh-performance data printers, a roomy, toner reservoir is used in suchapparatus in order to avoid down time caused by refilling toner. Whenthis toner reservoir is empty, the toner that is usually supplied inhandy containers is filled into the reservoir. It is thereby importantto fill the toner from the container into the reservoir such that notoner is spilled and thereby contaminates the environment.

German Patent No. 32 24 296 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,759discloses an apparatus for filling and sieving toner from a containerinto a toner reservoir. The toner situated in a transport container,namely in a toner bottle, is thereby supplied to a reservoir in that thetoner bottle is inverted into a filling aperture of the reservoir. Astrainer basket that is closed from the reservoir with a sieve isarranged in the region of the filling aperture, this strainer basketbeing in communication with an electrical shaker means that can betriggered as needed. The shaker means is thereby triggered by openingthe cover that closes the filling aperture.

In such filling devices, there is then the risk that the toner will bespilled given manual decanting from the toner bottle. Since, moreover,the toner is only supplied to the toner reservoir at a defined location,special distributor devices are needed in the toner reservoir in orderto guarantee a uniform supply of the toner to the developer station.

Xerox Disclosure Journal, Vol. 1 No. 8, August 1976, p. 47, alsodiscloses that toner be supplied to the developer station from areservoir arranged at a distance therefrom in that air is blown throughthe reservoir. This air then transports the toner into the developerstation.

DE-A-3 116 870 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,112 furtherdiscloses an apparatus for filling toner from a container into areservoir in the development station of a non-mechanical printer orcopier means. The apparatus is composed of a centering tank, of aseating surface and of a filling opening of the reservoir fashionedshaft-like. A swivel hole is arranged between the seating surface andthe centering tank. The container is first arranged in the centeringtank secured against turning. After being opened, the container isswivelled around the swivel hole until it comes to lie in the seatingsurface. The opening of the container thereby proceeds over the fillingopening of the reservoir. The container is subsequently inverted intothe filling opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to design a toner container of thespecies initially cited such that the toner can be decanted from thiscontainer into the printer or copier means in a simple way withoutcompacted toner occurring or without the toner being spilled.

In a toner container of the species initially cited, this object isachieved by a toner container comprising a funnel-shaped floor thatforms a lowest collecting region for the toner, a filling and emptyingopening and collecting region of the toner container being arrangedrelative to one another such that the toner container is fastened in aholding mechanism in a removable position wherein the collecting regionforms the lowest region of the toner container, a suction nozzle isallocated to the printer or copier device and is displaceable in thecollecting region, and in that at least one container wall is fashionedas a supporting surface for the toner container.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention include all container wallsfashioned as planar surfaces. The container walls have a wall slant inorder to facilitate the flow of toner where the container sidewallsdescribe an angle of less than forty-five degrees with reference to avertical axis of the container in the removal position. The tonerdelivery system includes a holding mechanism as a shaker mechanism. Theholding mechanism is also fashioned swivelable for inserting thecontainer into the printer means.

In the toner delivery system, the suction nozzle is arranged in avertically displaceable fashion inside a flexible protecive sheathwithin a guide means arranged above the holding mechanism. The suctionnozzle displaces itself along the holding mechanism in accordance withthe level of the toner in the toner container during removal of thetoner. Preferably, an adaptor connects the flexible protective sheath toa filling and emptying opening of the toner container in a dust-tightfashion and is provided between the guide means and the holdingmechanism. A foil covers the filling the filling and emptying opening ofthe toner container in its filled condition and the adaptor includes acutting means for penetrating the foil. The toner delivery system mayalso include a gripper element for gripping the toner container.

The toner container preferably has a closing cover arranged in captivefashion for the filling and emptying opening thereof.

In that the toner container comprises a funnel-shaped floor having alowest collecting region for the toner, whereby at least one containerwall serves as supporting surface for the container, the toner containercan be completely emptied with the assistance of a suction nozzle. Viathe supporting surface, the toner container can be placed on planarsurfaces anywhere.

The wall slant of the side walls of the toner container prevents tonerfrom emplacing itself on the side walls.

The collecting effect in the container can be further intensified via ashaker means.

The smooth wall surfaces of the toner container enable an easy stackingof the containers, this significantly facilitating the transport of aplurality of toner containers.

The multi-functional toner container of the invention is adapted such tothe suction means for the toner with respect to its shaping that acontamination-free changing of the container is enabled for the operatorof the printer means, whereby the toner container can be employed bothas container for fresh toner as well as as a collecting container forused toner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and shall be setforth in greater detail below by way of example. Shown are:

FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of the toner container;

FIG. 2 a schematic sectional view of the toner container;

FIG. 3 a schematic illustration of the toner delivery region of aprinter means with inserted, filled toner bottle before connection tothe suction device;

FIG. 4 a schematic sectional view of the toner delivery region of theprinter means in a partially sectional view with a nearly completelyemptied toner container;

FIGS. 5a and 5b a sectional view of the safety mechanism for the suctionnozzle in its secured condition;

FIGS. 6a and 6b a sectional view of the safety mechanism for the suctionnozzle in its unsecured condition;

FIG. 7 a schematic sectional view of the adaptor region of the suctionmeans; and

FIG. 8 a schematic illustration of the emptying region of the printermeans with inserted toner container as collecting container.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A printer means that operates based on the electrophotographic principleand that is not shown in detail here contains a toner delivery region(FIG. 3) for the acceptance of a toner container 10 manufactured ofplastic and having an appertaining draw-off means via which the powderytoner 11 is supplied to a developer station (not shown here) of theprinter means. An emptying region (FIG. 8) is also provided in theprinter means, an empty toner container 10 as collecting container forthe developer mix being capable of being secured therein when emptyingthe developer station.

In a known way, a charge image is inked with toner in the developerstation of the printer means via a two-component developer mix composedof toner and carrier particles. This developer mix, first, must berefreshed from time to time by adding toner; on the other hand, it isnecessary after a longer operating time to replace the entire developermix.

The toner container 10 is designed for the acceptance of about 3 kg oftoner powder. Its container walls thereby form a planar surface, wherebyone surface 12 is designed as supporting surface. The upper wallsurfaces of the toner container form a cuboid having parallel surfaces,this enabling a space-saving stacking of the toner containers. A handle13 is thereby arranged such integrated into the wall surfaces that,first, easy carrying of the toner container 10 is enabled and, second, astacking of a plurality of toner containers is not impeded. Adjoiningthe supporting surface 13, the container walls 12/5 and 12/6 togetherwith the container wall 12/1 and the supporting surface 12 form afunnel-shaped collecting region for the toner. A filling and emptyingopening 14 is situated lying opposite this collecting region and can beclosed with a cover 16 having an insert 9 of expanded material the cover16 being captively secured via a clip 15.

After filling with toner powder 11, the opening itself is sealed with analuminum foil 17.

Collecting region and filling and emptying opening 14 are arranged suchrelative to one another that, according to FIG. 1, a suction nozzle 18introduced into the toner container from above penetrates up to thecollecting region after a corresponding draw-off of the toner powder.

In this characteristic removal position shown in FIG. 1, the collectingregion forms the lowest point of the toner container. With reference tothe vertical axis A of the introduction or, respectively, removalposition of the toner container, the walls thereby describe an angle Bthat amounts to less than 45°.

In the illustrated emptying position of FIG. 1, this means that allwalls have a slant relative to the vertical axis A that prevents tonerfrom remaining adhering to the walls of the container given the removalwith the suction nozzle 18 in combination with a beating/shaking means.During emptying, the toner collects in the collecting region formed bythe walls 12/5 and 12/6 or, respectively, 12 and 12/1 that forms thelowest location of the container and the toner can be completelysuctioned off there.

In order to be able to supply the toner from the toner container 10 tothe developer station in functionally reliable fashion withoutcontaminating the environment, the toner delivery region comprises adraw-off means for the toner and comprises a corresponding holding meansfor the toner container 10.

The draw-off means is thereby composed of the suction nozzle 18 arrangedin vertically displaceable fashion between the guide rods (FIG. 3), thissuction nozzle 18 being in communication via a flexible suction pipe 20with a blower of the printer that is not shown here. The blower suctionsthe toner out of the toner container 10 via the suction nozzle anddeposits it in the developer station.

According to FIG. 4, the suction nozzle 18 comprises an inside tube 21cut wedge-like at its bottom end that is in communication with theflexible suction tube 20 and comprises draw-in openings 22 for thetoner. The inside tube 21 is completely surrounded by an outside tube 23arranged at a distance therefrom that, first, comprises an air intakeopening 24 at its upper part that opens into the environment and,second, comprises toner entry openings 25 at its tip in the take-inregion. The spacing and the guidance of the inside tube 21 are effectedby spacer elements (not shown here) that, for example, can be composedof three strips of expanded cellular material uniformly distributed overthe circumference.

In order to keep lumpy toner residues away from the delivery to theprinter station, the toner entry openings 25 can be covered by a tonersieve that covers the take-in region of the suction nozzle.

The suction nozzle itself is arranged in vertically displaceable fashionvia a handle 26. Carrier elements 27 are provided to this end that guidethe suction nozzle between guide rods 19. In order to protect thesuction nozzle and in order to prevent an emergence of toner into theenvironment, the suction nozzle 18 is surrounded by a sheath in the formof a rubber accordion bellows 28. This sheath 28 is secured to thecarrier elements 27 at the top and bottom, whereby the lower carrierelement 27 is fashioned as an adaptor for connecting the toner container10 and as a lower guide for the suction nozzle 18. The adaptor isthereby stationarily arranged and contains an annular stripper ring 29(FIG. 7) for stripping toner residues from the suction nozzle 18;further, a safety means fashioned according to FIGS. 5 and 6 is alsoprovided, this to be set forth later. The actual connector part for thetoner container is composed of a sealing ring 30 (FIG. 3) of expandedcellular material for the filling and emptying opening and of a cuttingring 31 that has the job of cutting through the foil 17 when the tonercontainer 10 is introduced.

Further, the receptacle means contains a receptacle container 32 (FIGS.3 and 4) for the toner container that comprises two wall surfacesbetween which retaining rods 33 for the toner container are arranged.The receptacle container 32 is pivotably secured to a rotary hinge 34,wherewith the receptacle container 32 can be pivoted out of the interiorof the receptacle region (device compartment) of the printer.

The receptacle container 32 is also vertically pivotable around thefastening axis 35 at the rotary hinge 34 and comprising a clampmechanism 36 that interacts with a corresponding hook 37 at the adaptorof the draw-off devices.

According to FIGS. 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b a catch nose 38 is located in aside wall of the receptacle container 32, this catch nose 38 interactingwith a corresponding pin 39 of a lifter rod 40 that is resilientlyseated in the adaptor. The lifter rod 40 seated in the adaptor is incommunication via a toggle lever 14 with a retaining pin 42 securedtherein A spring 43 encircles the lifter rod 40.

The function of the described apparatus is then as follows: the tonercontainer 10 comprising foil seal 17 and hinged-open cover 16 isswivelled into the inside of the receptacle region of the printer in thereceptacle container 32, being swivelled via the rotary hinge 34. Byturning around the fastening axis 35, a clamp mechanism 36 brings thetoner container 10 arranged in the receptacle container 32 intoengagement with the adaptor. Before, however, the neck 44 of the tonerbottle engages into the sealing ring 30 of expanded cellular material, acircular sector of about 340° is cut into the foil seal by the cuttingring 31.

When the neck 44 of the toner bottle engages into the sealing ring 30 ofexpanded cellular material, the safety mechanism of FIG. 5 and 6releases the suction nozzle 18. The suction nozzle 18 is fixed by aretaining pin 42 that is connected to the toggle mechanism 41. Due tothe swivel motion of the receptacle container 32 around the fasteningaxis 35, the pin 39 on the lifter rod 40 enters into engagement with thecatch nose 38 arranged on the receptacle container and having anappertaining leading bevel. The lifter rod 40 is lifted and theretaining pin 42 moved by the toggle lever 41 releases the suctionnozzle 18. As a result of its dead weight, the suction nozzle 18penetrates into the toner container 10 and thereby presses the slit foilseal 17 that is connected only at a tongue into the interior of thebottle where the actual toner delivery can now begin. The catch nose 38prevents the receptacle container 32 from being swivelled away when thesuction nozzle 18 is introduced.

After the conclusion of the conveying event, i.e. when the tonercontainer 10 is changed, the suction nozzle 18 is drawn from the tonercontainer 10 with the handle 26. The toner adhering to the suctionnozzle 18 is removed by the stripper ring 29 when the suction nozzle 18is withdrawn and falls back into the inside of the bottle. The rubberbellows 28 covers the suction nozzle 18 that may still be slightlycontaminated and thus offers protection against accidental contact.

Upon compression of the rubber bellows 28, i.e. given penetration intothe toner bottle 10, a pressure equalization takes place through a bore45 (FIG. 7).

When the suction nozzle 18 has been entirely withdrawn from the tonerbottle 10, the compression spring 43 can press the lifter rod 40 indownward direction and thereby inhibit the suction nozzle 18 with theretaining pin 42. At the same time, the pin 39 that interacts with thecatch nose 38 is released and the receptacle container 32 together withthe toner container 10 can be swivelled away.

In order to assure a reliable delivery of the toner 11 into the draw-offregion of the suction nozzle 18 when the suction nozzle is introduced, ashaker means can be provided (FIG. 4) in the receptacle region, thisshaker means, for example, being composed of a beater hammer 46 that isswivelably arranged in the receptacle means and that can be deflectedvia an electromagnet 48 opposite a spring power 47. This beater hammer46 thereby forms a type of shaker means that strips toner that may stillbe potentially adhering to the inside walls of the toner container 10.

Given printer means operating according to the principle ofelectrophotography, the residual toner remaining on the photoconductivedrum after the transfer event must be conveyed away from thephotoconductive drum by a brush cleaning station applied to anunderpressure and must be deposited in a collecting container by acyclonic filter.

According to FIG. 8, an empty toner container 10 can serve as collectingcontainer for this residual toner. To this end, an empty toner containeris inserted into a holding container 49 that comprises a wedge-shapedinsert 50 in its bottom region, this insert 50 being shaped tocorrespond with the bottom supporting surface 12 of the toner container10. Via appropriate clamp mechanisms 51 and 52, the holding container 49together with the empty toner container 10 arranged therein can besecured to the hook 53 of the exit pipe 54 of the cyclonic filter (notshown here).

Although other modifications and changes may be suggested by thoseskilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embodywithin the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications asreasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution tothe art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toner delivery system for delivering toner to aprinter or copier means, comprising: a toner container having a fillingand emptying opening, a holding mechanism of a printer or copier meansbeing interchangeably fastenable to said filling and emptying opening ofsaid toner container to hold said toner container in a toner removalposition, a suction nozzle mounted in said printer or copier means anddefining a toner passageway into said printer or copier means, saidtoner container comprises a funnel-shaped floor that forms a lowestcollecting region for the toner, the filling and emptying opening andthe collecting region are arranged relative to one another such that,when the toner container is fastened in the holding mechanism in theremoval position wherein the collecting region forms the lowest regionof the toner container, said suction nozzle mounted in the printer orcopier device is displaceable into the collecting region; and in that atleast one container wall of the toner container is fashioned as asupporting surface for the toner container.
 2. A toner delivery systemaccording to claim 1, wherein all container walls of said tonercontainer are substantially planar surfaces.
 3. A toner delivery systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said toner container comprises containerwalls disposed at a slant in order to facilitate flow of the toner tosaid collecting region of said toner container, said container wallsdescribing an angle with reference to a vertical axis of the tonercontainer in the removal position of less than 45 degrees.
 4. A tonerdelivery system according to claim 1, wherein said holding mechanismfurther comprises a shaker mechanism operable to shake said tonercontainer when said toner container is fastened to said holdingmechanism.
 5. A toner delivery system according to claim 1, wherein saidholding mechanism further comprises a means for swivelably inserting thecontainer into the printer or copier means.
 6. A toner delivery systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a flexible protective sheathabout said suction nozzle to permit vertical displacement of saidsuction nozzle within said sheath, a guide means for guiding saidsuction nozzle during vertical displacement, said guide means beingarranged above the holding mechanism, whereby the suction nozzlegravitationally displaces itself along said guide means in accord withthe level of toner in the toner container during draw-off.
 7. A tonerdelivery system according to claim 6, further comprising: an adapterbetween said guide means and said holding mechanism that connects theflexible protective sheath to said filling and emptying opening of thetoner container in dust-tight fashion.
 8. A toner delivery systemaccording to claim 7, wherein said toner container has a foil coveringsaid filling and emptying opening when said toner container is in afilled condition, and further comprising: a cutting means forpenetrating said foil that covers the filling and emptying opening ofthe toner container in its filled condition.
 9. A toner delivery systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a gripper element on saidtoner container by which said toner container is gripped.
 10. A tonerdelivery system according to claim 1, further comprising: a closingcover fastened in captive fashion to the filling and emptying opening.